Broadband Multichannel Slipring

In Phase I, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) has developed a novel highly modular microwave rotary joint structure, so that for the first time a single rotary joint modules can be replaced without compromising the overall rotary design structure. The highly modular Optical/Microwave/Electrical Rotary INTerconnect (OMERINT) periscope device can transfer over 100 channels of power/data, including 17 microwave channels covering the full RF range from DC to 40 GHz, a major focus of this program. The optical channels have a bandwidth of over 10 GHz. In Phase II we will design the more than 100 OME channels, fabricate selected channels as Phase II prototypes, and test them on platforms that can rotate more than 360 degrees in both directions. Special attention will be paid to the 17 microwave channels for low, middle, and high RF frequencies up to 40 GHz, including their resilience to aging and minimization of insertion and return losses during free rotary operation. The OMERINT device will be an important step in improving the performance of U.S. submarine periscopes by augmenting the bandwidth of their data transfer capacity.